Telehealth rebate cut will hurt Vic: Davis

THOUSANDS of Victorians face longer waits and travel times for health services because of a change to a federal rebate, the state government says.

The telehealth rebate, introduced in 2011, now only applies to remote patients, rather than those in outer suburban and regional areas.

Victorian Health Minister David Davis said those on Melbourne's fringes would now face longer waits for services.

"There is an acute shortage of many specialists in these outer metropolitan areas, forcing many Victorians to travel further and wait longer for specialist advice and care," he told The Age on Thursday.

Mr Davis's criticism is the latest in a running stoush between the levels of government over health care.

The state has accused the Commonwealth of ripping hundreds of millions from the budget, while federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek says the state will actually receive an additional $1 billion over the next four years.